Fire extinguishing system



Dec. 13, 1932. A. c. RowLEY FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed Nov. '7.1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l Bec. 13, 19321. A. c. RowLEYA FIRE EXTINGUISHNGSYSTEM Filed Nov. 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lPatented Dec. 13, 1932f'UNiTED STATE-s PAT-ENT oFFl-CE =.AIR/.[I-IUR C; ROW LEY, .0FPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGrNORv TO GLOBE AUTO-- MATIC SPRINKLERCOMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, 'PENNSYLVANIA,l -A CORPORA- TION 0FPENNSYLVANIA FIERE EXTINGUISHING. SYSTEM -Applcation led November 7,1930.- SeriaLNo. 494,141. 'i

This invention relates toY improvements in lire extinguishing systems,and more particularly in that type ofsystem employing CO2 or similarfluid fire extinguishing medium which is normally maintained under highpressure in suitable containers to be releasedl inthe event of re withina prescribed. area.

One object of my invention is to provide an eticient. assembly includinga battery of containers for .the CO2 or other medium, together Vwithmeans for releasing the contents of said containers under predeterminedconditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly of the statedcharacter in which provision is made for simultaneously releasing thecontents of a plurality of the containers through a common actuatingmechanism.

Still another object ofthe invention is to provide an assembly of thestated character in which provision is made for releasingy the contentsof the containers.automatically as a result of predetermined abnormaltemperatureconditions in a prescribed area.

The invention further resides in certain structural. and mechanicalvfeatures hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the attached drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an assembly made in accordancewith ymy invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the assembly, and

Figs. 3 and 4 are detached perspective views of elements of theapparatus.

l/Vith reference to the drawings, the apparatus forming an embodiment ofmy invention may comprise aplurality of containers l of a type adaptedto hold CO2 or other l'luid lire extinguishing medium underhighpressures. In the present instance, the apparatus comprises twobanks or parallel rows of said containers, these rows being designatedin Fig. 2 by the reference numerals 2 and 3 respectively. The containersare mounted in the present instance in a suitable supporting framework4, this framework comprising uprights 5 connected transversely by aplurality of vertical spaced bars 6 and longitudinally by barsl 7. Boththe upri-glits and their conl-rl Extending longitudinally of the frameand joining the lowermost` of the said bars 6 at pointsy intermediateytheir ends are longitudinal bars 8 arranged, to form with the: bars 7sea-ts, for the containers 1 of the banks 2 and 3,as clearly illustratedin'Fig. 2. In each instance, the vertical flange of the angle bar`8constitutes a stop for the bottoms ofthe said containers limiting theirmovement inwardly of the frame. Bars 9 correspending to the bars 8connect the two overlying transverse bars ,6 and constitute means forsupporting a plurality of pairs of uprightv bars 11, these barsconstituting in effeet retainers engaging the rearsides ofthe containers1 and tending to support the containers in their relatively spacedrelation longitudinally of the supporting bars 7 and 8. Intermediate thecontainers of the respective parallel banks are retaining bolts l2 whichextend from the respective bars 9 outwardly towards the opposite sidesof the frame and at their outer ends are adapted to receive clampingelements 13 which through the medium of a nut 14 on the threadedextremities of the bolts 12 arel secured firmly against the outer sidesof the adjacent containers whereby the latter are held firmly againstthe vertical bars11 and are thereby eectively anchored in the frame. Thecontainers are readily released by back'- ing off the nut 14 andremoving the clamps 13, and may then be removedvfrom the opposite sidesof the frame for relling and for the purpose of replacing the emptycontainers with full ones. The aforedescribed construction affords asimple relatively inexpensive and lhighly efficient support for thecontainers. v

Each of the containers 1 is provided at the top with a suitablevalve orclosure device 16 whereby the compressed fluidy contents are retainedunder normal'- condi-tionsy V'without leakage and whereby the said,contents are released when required by abnormal temperature conditions.A device suitable for this purpose is illustrated in United StatesPatent No. 1,874,356. The details of this device form no part of thepresent invention and are not illustrated or described. The devices 16of the various containers of each series are individually connectedthrough ducts 17 with a manifold 18, which manifolds are mounted in theupper end of the frame 4, one end of each manifold being extended orconnected through suitable piping with the particular area. in which theapparatus is effec- The manifolds 18 are supported in depending brackets19, 19 suitably secured to the upper part of the frame 4, and connectionbetween the manifold and the ducts 17 is made through suitable Ls 21.

The devices 16 are adapted to be actuated to release the contents of thecontainers to the ducts 17 and the manifold 18 through the medium of anactuating lever 22, and the levers of the devices of the respectiveseries or banks of containers are connected individually through rods 23with actuating rods 24 which are longitudinally movable in the frame 4.Each of the rods 24 is slidably mounted at one end in a bracket 25mounted on and secured to one of the upper cross bars 6, while theopposite end is similarly supported in a bracket 26 secured at theopposite end of the frame. Intermediate the ends, the said rods aresupported by bearing brack- 'J ets 27 which as shown in Fie. 2 aresuspended from the upper side rais of the frame. The rod 24 slidesfreely in the bearings in the longitudinal direction, and the arrangement is such that a predetermined movement of the rod effects anactuation through the connecting links 23 and the lever 22 of therelease devices 16 whereby the fluid contents of the containers arepermitted to flow into the manifold 18.

Carried by each of the brackets 26 is a pivoted lever 31, these leversbeing operative ly connected respectively with the rods 24. Alsopivotally mounted upon an arm 32 of each of the brackets 26 is an arm 33which 1 carries a weight 34 and which comprises a projection 35 adaptedto engage a shoulder 36 on the lever 31 whereby when the arm 33 isdropped from an elevated position, shown in Fig. 1, by means hereinafterdescribed,

= the said member 35 engaging the shoulder 36 of the lever 31 drivesthis lever rearwardly and thereby causes a movement in the direction ofthe arrow, see Fig. 1, of the rod 24, such movement resulting in anactuation of the release devices 16 as previously described. Undernormal conditions, the arm 33 is supported in the elevated position by astirrup or yoke 37 which engages over one arm 38 of a bell crank lever39 forming a part of an automatic release device designated generally bythe reference numeral 41. This device may be made in accordance with theprinciples disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 460,511,filed June 11, 1930. Since the details of this release device form nopart of the present invention, the details of construction are notillustrated and itis sufcient to state that it is of a type commonlyemployed in fire-extinguishing apparatus and known in the trade as arelease box.

As previously set forth, the release device 41 comprises the bell cranklever 39 one arm of which supports the weighted arm 33, while the otherarm engages in a suitable locking means within the device and ismaintained thereby until such time as the said release device isactuated as a result, for example, of the effect of an abnormaltemperature within the zone protected by the apparatus upon athermosensitive switch element 40. Such actuation of the release 41results in a release of the lever 39 and actuation as pre viouslydescribed of the release devices 16 of the containers 1. In order toprevent accidental operation of the device through an unauthorizedmovement of the lever 31, the arm 33 is provided with a pair of teats 42and 43 respectively. The latter of these devices, engaged behind anopposed teat 44 on the lower end of the lever 31, prevents elevation ofthe lever 33 sufficient to permit detachment of the stirrup 37 from thesupporting arm 38. The teat 42 by interengagement with the hookedextremity 45 of the arm 33 also acts to prevent displacement of thelever 31 to a sufficient extent to actuate the devices 16.

The assembly described above has the advantages of simplicity andcompactness of form and is highly efficient in operation.

I claim:

In lire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a container for afluid lire-eX- tinguishing medium, of a releasable closure member forsaid container, a longitudinally slidable actuating rod operativelyconnected with said releasable closure member, a pivoted leveroperatively connected with said rod, actuating means comprising a memberadapted when released to impinge upon the said pivoted lever to therebyactuate the said rod and through said rod to release the said closuremeans, and interlocking means on said pivoted lever and the actuatingmember for preventing accidental displacement of the said actuating rod.

ARTHUR C. ROVVLEY.

